Vehicle tire



C. S. PRESTON.

VEHICLE TIRE.

APPLiCATION' FlLED JULY 17. 1919.

1,408,? 14. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

TI G a INVENTOR.

Cmmiwcfi SP ESTQN BY @QQW I A TTORNEY PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE s. rnns'ron, or SAN nineog CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE TIRE.

Application filed'July 17, 1919.

which, under radial tension, serve to support a tread portion having converging lnner surfaces, the side portions of the saddle being supported by flaring or divergingrim portions, to which they are attached at their opposite edges; second to provide a tire of this class with means for providing an air cushion betweenthe elastic stirrup or sad dle and the rim or load supporting portion of the tire, thus providing for both an air cushionand an elastic portion for supporting the load; third, to provide a tire of this class which is practically as resilient pneumatic tire and has all. the general characteristics of operation of thesame which will not puncture, become deflated or rim-cut. Another object is to provlde'for so suspending a stirrup supporting member for the tread from the outer peripheral edges of the flaring portions of a rim supporting member that said stirrup support will not be worn or liable to be cut or weakened by vibration at its supporting portlon, or by projecting parts, whereby it will be more durable and effective, also to provide an annular air cushion chamber between the stir-- rup member and the inner wall of said rim members, free from projection or obstructions, and thus further support the load.

Another object is to provide a rim support ofapproximately V-shape, composed of outwardly flaring parts or members, secured to the felloeand free from interiorprojectlons,

'and ha-ving outer peripheral edges which are vclamped to the extended edges of a stirrup oresaddle supporting member, so as to. support and suspend the same and form an unobstructed air cushion space lJBtWGBIlY-Sitid parts. a y A i v i h these and'other ob ects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruc- Specification of Letters Patent.

elastic material, serves as a support for the load. This Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

SerialNo. 311,573.

tion, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described 111 detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersvof reference thereon which form a part of this specification in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional viewof my tire in its preferred form, shown mounted on a felloe; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the tire, showing portions broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of my tire in a slightly modified form from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and shown mounted on a felloe. 7

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings;

The tread portion 1, supporting stirrup 2, supporting rim portions 3,ibinding members 4, bolts 5, elastic flap member 6 and valve stem 7 constitute the principal parts and portions of my vehicle tire.

The tread portion 1 consists of resilient material preferably a rubber compound and shaped as shown best in the drawings and vulcanized, cemented or otherwise secured to a supporting stirrup member 2. This member is preferably made of a highgrade preferably rubber, which stirrup member 2 is provided at its opposite circumferential edges with enlarged annular portionsQ. These portions are some what .Tv-shaped in cross section, that is, each has opposite annular side flanges 2 for making secure connection with clamping members; "Secured to stirrup member 2 are the supporting rim portions 3 which are annularmembersiadapted to suspend and support the V-shaped member 2, and extend past and :over' the outerenlarged circumferential edges 2 thereof to nearthe middle line where-they terminate in beveled edges 3*. These members 3 are provided with inwardly extending annular flanges 3 .which are. adapted. to be pressed into the ,member 2 7 just inside one of the flanges 2", for holding said members 2 and 3 in their 7 certain. relative positions to each other and making a tight joint. Mounted on the opposite orinner sides ofv the extended edge portionsrfl on both; sides 1 of the tread'fl,

,are ;t he annular binding or; clamping ring t i members Leach shaped with an ofliset or shoulder to fit underthe side flange 2., their outer overlapping'ed'g es being beveled" and projecting over the beveled edges 3 of the 3 and 4 are drawn together-andiheldin their relative positions and clamp over the portions 2 and 2 by means of website-t: The rim 3 may be convenientlymade oftwo annular parts, a and 6, each havinga'n' inwardly curved inner portion andan'out wardly turned up bracingflange halving cut away portions" at 8 for' receiving the fastening bolts 10,-which pass" through the flat part at 3 andthe" fences; The two parts of the rim" meet centrally "at 'c,- Fi'g 3, on the fe-lloe' and abut,-s'o-a-s'i to make substantially a' t-ight joint; The' fia re orinclination of the rim members doesnotcoincide' with that of the inner surfaces ofthe stirrup 2, but is less obtuse andtheyare of such a width as to provide anair cushion chamber 12, of approximately V-shape, be tween the members 2 and 3, but being deepest centrally adjacentto the felloe." 'This cushion helps to sustain the'load and exercises a cushioning efle'ct'flon the wholeinclined inner surfaces of the stirrup member 2; In the preferred form" otcoiistruction there is providedan elastic and resilient flap member 6,\\ hich-fitsthe inner surface of the parts (Land 7) members 3; andentends down between the members 2 and 3 at opposite sides and is ciampeid at its outer edges between said members by means" of the bolts 5, inFig. 1 and-theoutward edges of theflap 6 are cemented orviilcanizedt'o the extended edges of member. 2', forming an air tight joint between said -meiirib'ers. Mbunted in saidjflap member and therim and extending through the fence is a valve stem 7 which may be'of the conventional type adapted for the introduction {of air between the flap member "6 and the member 2,

thus forming an air cushion 12"of anv sired pressure between"therini 3 and-the member 2, whieh serves a's'anadditionalsiip port for the load and assists the" member 2 in supporting the load, being particularly effective where 'thevehicleii'sstored or standing for a considerable Ien'gflifo'f tiiiiiand li} 1* saddleflr havin "conformation? Y serving; to" take the "strain olf ofrtlie stirrup memb'e'r fi. The tread portion- 1 of, the tire is preferably made with inner inclined surfaces i diverging" fronts crurved middle part 1", upward and oiitvifard"; or'iri*'other words converging immune-sides tdftlie middle portions; forming 'the 'sup'plortiii'g j lie stirrup :ofthrust o t e-transverse Tween-"ra he outer or saddle is approximately V-shaped in cross section, with a wide curved lower end, andupwardly diverging walls, as shown, for giving it greater strength to resist wear and vibration caused by the constant motion and jar of the wheel in travel. Thisis quite important in practice and adds greatly to the"lifeiof the tire. The diverging parts of the stirrup or saddle being nearly vertical will be very little affected by the up and down motion of the wheel during r0- tationgarid will not, therefore, breaktransveise'ly, as will a transversely fiat or nearly flat band or belt which has been proposed in a tire construction. Under a load, and especially-during travel, tlie pressure of the tread portion may have a tendency to slightly draw inwardthe 'extended e'dges of thesaddle and rim"portionsandthus tighten the parts and better resist vibration, wear, and strain; Since the saddle is suspended from, and supported by, theoutwardly diverging rim portions, a cleanair cushion space 12 is provided for further supporting which would cut or wear the saddlei In the modifi'ed form of construction shown in Fig. 3 of theklr'awings thefltp member 6 and valve stem 7 areeliniinated, thei structure otherwise being the sainei It will be noted that 'a considerable air space" 12 is left between the members'Qand 3 to permit movement of the members 1 and 2' relatively to'the rim siipportfs 3 in case auobstructionis runover by the tread-portion; It is to be noted tliatthe member2 is of sufficient strength to support the load under tension under ordinary cenditions as shown in Fi 3' of the drawings.

7 Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arthea'ppended claims. y Y It" isobvious that with this construction therefis provided a' tire structure in which the load 1s suspended upon the elastic stirrup portion under-tension and that thi's'saine elastic stirr iip' portion, V-shaped in cross section, supports the tire forsideufthrust, 'for goinglaround curves and the" like and that in'th'e" preferred form of construction.

there" is provided an air cushion to"'assist in supporting the load both for load carry- 'ilig hild Slde tliruSti i i elastic diver ing pares-11S Or-aimsrup or saddle will inuse. practically a be undefi longitudinah or fradial randomne s,

'ti'ansverse tension, as would atrans- V vrseiy flar, b afid or' belt, and traders; less.

liable to crack under vibration imparted by the wheel in motion or travel over a roadg vehicle tire comprising a tread portion provided with oppositely disposed, outwardly inclined elastic extended portions or tension flanges, and load carrying supports or rim members secured thereto at their outer edges, and a felly to which said supports are secured, or such a construction wherein the telly is disposed in spaced relation to said tread portion or member, is not claimed herein, as such matter is made the subject of claims in my copending application, Serial Number 297,181.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vehicle tire of the class described, the combination with a tread member provided with converging inner circumferential surfaces, of an elastic supporting saddle member, having outwardly diverging portions applied to said surfaces and provided with edge extensions, and a load carrying rim having diverging annular side portions of a greater width and a diflierent divergence from the side portions of the saddle, so as to provide an air space between the rim and saddle portions, an elastic annular flap between said portions, the edges of the rim, and edges of the flap being secured to said extensions of the saddle, and means for supplying air to the space between the flap and the saddle member, whereby the load will be supported-by the diverging portions of the saddle under tension, and by an air cushion, for the purpose described.

2. In a vehicle tire of the class described, the combination with a tread member, of an elastic supporting saddle member, approximately V shaped in cross section, applied to the tread member for supporting it against side thrusts, and having enlarged outer edges a rim having diverging side portions provided at their inner portions with outwardly turned up bracing flanges, a felloe, bolts securing said flanges to the felloe, said side portions having near their outer edges inwardly projecting annular flanges exending partly over the enlarged edges of the saddle, clamping rings fitted to the inner faces and partly over said outer edges, and bolts for drawing the parts together and making tight oints.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego California this 11th day of July 1919.

CLARENCE S. PRESTON. 

